Incandescent lamp



Nov'. l0, 1925. 1,560,882

J. s. VAN g-ioRNE INGANDESGENT LAMP Filed July 25, 1922 lll Patented Nov. 10, 1925.

JOHNl s. VAN nonna,

or` RNKIQI; oHIo.

mornin;:scenariA LAMr.

Application led July 25,

i To all whom it may con-cern.'

Be it known'that I, JOHN S. VAN"ll-lonnit,v a citizen of the United States, residing at Franklin, in the county of Varren and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Incandescent Lamps, of which the following is a specilication. f My invention relates to incandescent electric lamps and more particularly to a sectional lamp having independent" interchangeable and replaceable units of frac-4 tional capacity.

The invention embodies-a holder or sup# port for the interchangeable and replaceable lamp units, having at one end the 'usual threaded stem or boss lfor engagement `with an ordinary lamp socket and carrying in spaced relation, two sets of circuit terminals or contacts between whic-hthe lamp units are detachably engaged preferably though not necessarily7 by a yielding or spring teusion characteristic of the contacts. The replaceable and interchangeable units comprise a simple and inexpensive form of glass bulb or tube closed at its opposite endsand either exhaust-ed or filled with an inert gas and having a lighting filament extending through such unit from one end to the other, and communicating with terminal contacts :it opposite ends of theunit tube or bulb. Each holder or support is adapted to contain a plurality of such detachable units, in which they are preferably electrically interconnected in series, but if desired, maybe connected in multiple. The ordinary incandescentelectric lamp involves in its construction intricate i' and expensive manufacturing operations. necessitates the employment 'of .highly skilledv labor in the manufacture and installation of the filament support,` with the filament properly disposed thereon. In the event that the lamp is dai'nag'ed either by being burned'out or by accidental breakage of the lighting filament7 it is the present practice to discardtheentire lamp including the vexlfiausted glassbulb` A the filament stand or support', and the metallic threaded base cap all'of which may be and in 4 fact usually vare intact and in.perfectcondition; While ythe 'monetaryvalue of a single'v lamp thus disca "ded because ofthe ydesillQ vof the iilainei 'nlysis comparatively small, the eoonorrflicI teand loss.' inc ident' to" thetlisf 'ite S i" a Ity ,ture'r toe perfect as to their glass structure, andcon- 1,560,882 PATENT- OFFICE- nectionsy but deficient only intheir filamenty.

is very great. Y Y

The obJect ofthe present invention is to simplify the structure as well as themeans and mode of operation of lelectric `incandescent lamps, whereby they will not only be chea'pened in construction, but will ybe,`

more efficient/n use, of'sectional character, whereby each sectionma'y` be independently replaced. of greater durability, land unlikely to get out of repair.; f y

Afurther"objectv of theinvention is to )rovide 'inv combination. with a suitable holdery sectional tubesor y"units, wh'ichmayv be easilyjand comparatively cheaply manu factured, and which maybe discarded without involving they economic los's and waste incident to the discarding ofacommercial incandescent amp-ofi the type-.newcommonlv manufacturedv provide a suitable holder ork mounting ycapablenof long and repeated use; having few` parts `capable lofsgetting outA of order, with means by which the 'sectional tubes or units may be lreadily v'engaged and disengaged', with minimum effort upon the part of the operator. f

l Vliile it is recognized that heretofore lamps have been describedv embodyingre newal features,v particularly lamps having a number of filaments which may be' brought into. the circuit alternately, or when-one filament is broken or burned out by a lsuitable adjustment the connection may be made with a second filament, one' of the. objects of the present invention is toprovide a lamp having the filament divided into 'sections of fractional capacity,'wherebv any sectionof the filament may ,be replaced. thus utilizing the remaining portion of the original fila-A menti I' 'y f further object of thefinventionis to provide a lamp. whichmav be economically manufactured: .tormeety the vdemandl for-1 a wide 'range ofcapacities by'u-tilizing similar parts."Forinstance a lampi" of greater yca.- nacitvor greater voltage 'may "be provided by.substitnting units ofgreater capacitv in the saine holder or m'ountin-q,`: thus enabling the user toeas'ilv and quickly accommodate his lam'pl to different` 'con'ditionsibvthe y'me-re substitution units 'or 'tuhesfo fj dif'- ferentf capacity and; fac- S t] y further ob'ect `ofthe invention is to alrite mountmger 'cld'ei; y

vparts and combinations thereof, and the mode of operation or their equivalents as hereinafter described and set forth in the claims. v

ln the laccompanyi'no drawings, wherein is shown the .preferrec, but Lobviously .not necessarily the only form of embodiment of the invention, Eig. 1 is aperspectiv'e View of the assembled sectional incandescent lamp forming the` subject v'matter -lrereo Fig. -2 -is -a vertical :sectional vieu7 of the Cil assembled lamp structure. .F ig. 3 is `fone of the llamp units or sections removed from the holder or mounting.l .F ig. 4 is a top plan View of the linsulator block containing j the yielding lamp circuit contacts. Fig. '5

is #a top planV vien7 of the opposite mounting or support disc containing the opposing terminals. 6 .is a diagrammatic View `,illustratingthe circuit connections, the series connectionsbeing shown by l`solid circuit lines, Whilek the Yimultiple connection is illustrated by dotted lines. This figure also illustrates a fbattery of" four .units or sections .arranged in a lineal lefgroup or common plane, side by each. -Figs 7 and 8 -are a side elevation and .plan view respectively of a modified form ofresilient or yielding circuitterminals for detachably engaging the lamp unit or section. j j i ,j

Like parts lare indicated lby similar chai? acters of reference throughout the several views.

A The sectional lamp construction forining the subject matter hereof is adaptable Stor lamps of either small or. large capacity, and may embody a few or many tubes or uni-ts. `lin the present instance, for illustra, tive purposes, a'lamp embodying but `four removable sections or vunits is shown.

The holder` or mountin comprises a housing or shell 1preerab y .though 'not necessarily ot'sheet metal. Supported upon this housing 'for :shell '1., lbut insulated "there- Lfrom by a 4body of .insulating `inateria'l Ais the threaded -inetallic sleeve 3., for interconnection fthe usufl socket.

glass, liber, hard rubber, phenolic condensation materials or other non-electroconductive substance. This insulator head or block "5 nis v'provided with a plurality of spaced holes 6, counterbored to provide an vinterna'lshoulder 7. Located in each of the holes y6 is. 'an vraxially movable plunger 8,

having an enlarged head engaging the j In the present instance, one of the helical` conductor springs isconnected through an` extension v10, With the contact disc il on the end `of .the threaded connection stem, While another one of these conductor springs 9 is connected through an extension l11 With the corrugated sleeve 8. The other Vpair vot' conductor springs 9 located in the .remaining two holes 6 of the block 5 are inA terconnected one with another by an inte`rmediate connection 12. The insulator block 5 containing the depressible contact 'plunger 8 and spring connection ifs secured Within the housin or shell l by cementing or by spinning t e edge of the shell over the block or by other suitable means. Before inserting the block Within Vthe lshell or housing v'1, an insulating disc` 13 having holes therein for the passage of the connections l0 and ll is areferably inserted Within the housing or siiell and forms a closure for the inner ends ofthe holes '6 insuring electrical insulation of the conductor springs 9 from vthe metallic -shell or housing. Interconnected With the insulator Ablock by means of a strut la is a disc or auxiliary head 15 carrying complementary contacts 16 alined Awith the plunger contacts 8. The disc 15 is of insulating material, preferably ot opal glass, sometimes known as millr glass, but may be .of porcelain, phenolic condensation materiahfberor the like. In

asmuch as this disc'is in full view, at'he p material employed i'sjpreferably one which `will v.present ay fpleasing'appearance. The disc l5 may be fot any ornamental l'shape or coniguration, or carry any suitableornainenta'l design. C I`h`e Lcontacts 16 vare embedded in the disais oinsnatioa ma- "i `lto Lpairs, by'fintermediate'ities es .gre "embeddecl inthe,"

teria?. and 'are "interconnected one with ain- 4 members 15 and 5.

curved as in Fig. to avoid the centralv orifice 18 which receives the shank 19 of the strut. The shank 19 of the strut engaged Within the disc as Well as the l'shanlt 2() thereof engaging in the vhead 5' Y such alineinent *subsequentv to assembly. The

extremities of the shanks 19 and 20 are re` duced and screvv threaded. The shank 20 receives a nut 21, seated within a recess or pocket 224 Within the insulating block or head The end of the shank 19 is simi- Vlarly reduced and threaded to receive an ornamental clamp nut 23, by Which the disc 15 is secured in its adjusted position.

The detachable lamp sections or units have n been shown in the present instance as ofV cylindrical forni, reduced or tapered at their' ends. It is to be'understood, however, that the shape or configuration ofv these lamp tubes or separable units lmay be varied either for ornamental purposes, or to n'ieet'differy ent conditions of use or manufacture.y Eniu bedded or sealed in each end of the separable lamp tubes 24 is a contact terminal 25. rlliese contact terminals are interconnected by an intermediate illuminating filament 26, which may be of any suitable material, preferably though not at all necessarily of tungsten. In the present insta.iice'tlie filament 25 extends axially through the tube. While other forms of filament :mounting and filaments of different formation maybe einployed, for economy of manufacture and simplicity of construction, the cylindrical tubular unit with an axially extending iilament is to be preferred. These units are readily engaged by applying` the Contact head 25 at one end, against a yielding'- plun` ger 8, and pressing the latter Ainwardly until the contact 25 at the opposite end of the lamp tube may be seated upon the opposing contact 16. The terminal plungers 8 and opposing terminal Contact 16 are preferably slightly concaved or recessed to forni sockets as at 27 Within which the contacts 25 at the ends of the unit engage. The units are equally as readily disengaged by a slight upward pressure against the yielding contact plunger 8, which permits the disengagement of the lamp unit from the lowercontact 16. In Figs. 7 and 8 there is shown a modification wherein the 'contacts or terminals carried by the disc 15,aie yielding in character,

enabling stationarycontacts to be employed inthe head block'` 5. In 'this instance, the

. :disc carries twov pairs ofjelectroeonductive "arns 28, the'arnis being somewhat L-shaped I tube.

and having at their extremitiesv concave heads 29, forming sockets for the extreini ties of the lamp unit. The arms 28 are uin-` terconnected in pairs by integral. collars 30 centrally disposed and .insulated one from the other by an interposed collar 3l of in-l sulating material.

flexible or resilient character that'they` Will yield againsty pressure to permit the inserff tion and removal of the lamp tubes 24. Thev lamp tube .terminals .25 make Contact with The arms 28 are flexed aivayfrom the disc 15 and are of suiiiciei'itlyv Y the arms 28, and are interconnected thereby in pairs in the saine relation that the contacts 16 are interconnected by the intermediate ties 17. l v.

By insulating the arms 28 of onepair, one from the other, the constructionf'shown .in Figs. 7* and 8 may be applied to thehead block 5 in lieu of the depi'essible'plungers In lieuof arranging the lamp tubes 24 in polygonal or circular grouped formation,"

they maybe alined one `with the other in a row as showiiin Fig.A 6; In Fig. 6 the circuit connections are illustrated and are the: same Whether applied to a grouped arrangement as in Fig. 1 or tothe alined formation as illustratedk in Fig. 6. In this circuit' thel contact disc 4 at the end of the threaded stem or connection'is velectrically connected through connection, 10 with the teriiiinal plunger 8 for the initial tube 24 of'thesc`r ries. The current passes thence through ,the filament of the tube to the contact-15` thence through the intermediate conductor 17 to the second contact 16, from which it passes through the filament of the tube 24b to the plunger 8 pertaining thereto. This plunger being connected through the conductor 12 with a second contact plunger -8 pertaining to the lamp tube y24c conducts the current to such tube andtlience through the filament of the tube 24c to the corresponding contacts 16 interconnected at 17 with the final terminal 16, with which is' engagedthe lamp tube 2.4.- The contact plunger 8 engaging the opposite end of this tube 24'1 is connected through the conductor 11 with the corrugated or threaded sleeve 8 of the connection stein.

In lieu of the series circuit before traced, the lamp tubes may for specialconstruction v be interconnected in multiple. Such circuit is illustrated by dotted lines in Fig. 8, Wherein the conductor32 leading from the disc 4 has a number of lateials 88 connecting With the contact plungers 8. The contacts 16 at the opposite ends of the tubes communicate through laterals 34 With a line 35 leading to the corrugated sleeve 3. By vsiich" .circuit connections each lamp tube will 'be supplied with, current. independent of .every other In-'. the series coniiection'gwhich kis to be preferred, if joneflainp unit is" damaged, burntV 'utffoij broken, no 'eurijentf `will Vpass and allv oit. the -tubes-f of.. the seiies will. be

extinguished until the damaged or broken tube is, replaced. 4 Y i While as before stated the lamp units or tubes may be of any suitable or desired shape to meet varying conditions of use or convenience of manufacture, or forV ornamental purposes, the form of cylindrical lamp tube having reduced or pointed ends, and anaxia'lly arranged filament as shown in the drawing is to be preferred. Such a tube may be very economically and cheaply manufactured, thereby providing replacement tubes at a very nominal cost. `While these tubesmay be independently or separately formed and exhausted or filled as the case may be, they are preferably and ymost economically manufactured in multiple. v To this end, a series of such lamp tubes are formed from a single long piece of glass tub ing by subjecting the tubing to heat at intervals, thereby reducing or contracting the tube vat regular intervals equivalent to the length of the desired lamp unit. The tube` however, is not completely closed at such contracted intervals, butthe succession of bulbsor tubes are left with intercommuniveating' passages. A continuous length of lighting filament havingv secured thereto at properly spaced intervals enlargements to form the unit terminals is then introduced through such `contracted glass tube and adjusted therein to bringthe spaced enl'argements Within the restricted passages between the succession of bulbs. The continuous strand of filament With its spaced enlargements having been properly positioned the entire tubecomprising an extended vseries of interconnected bulbs or sections is then subjected to exhaustion by suitable suction or vacuum means. By this means the'entire series of bulbs or units is exhausted at a single operation. When the proper degree of vacuumY has been attained the tubes are separated by fusing or burning off Vthe succeeding tubes at the point of contraction. This fusing or burning off operation causes a further contraction of the glass tubes about the spaced enlarge-ment upon the filament, which forms the terminal contact 25 of the vfinished tube, finally sealing such contacts or enlarged portions Within the Wall of the exhausted tube.` As each tube is burned ofi or separated, thefenlargement upon the filament is also divided,

leaving a portion in each -of the adjacentY ends of succeeding tubes `and leaving the tubes -hermetically sealed. As-:at'present advvised, this method yof manufacture of lan-ip tubes will form the subject matter of `a separate @application for Letters Patent .in lieu of the depressi'ble contacts, the y.contacts may be fixed and the engaged :and Vdisen- :byadjustment vof lthe clamp n nt '23. VFrein the abovedescription vit ,will be apL testate-11e is this prenne a 4dem@ Lacasse of the character described possessing the particular features of advantage before en umerated as desirable, but Which obviouslyV is susceptible of modification in its form, proportions, detail construction and arrangement of parts Without departing from the principle involved or sacrificing any of its advantages. j

While in order to comply with the'statute the invention has been described in language more or less specific as to structural features,v

member having an enlarged head, a second.

head located in parallel spaced relation With the first head, a rod fiXedly connecting the heads one with the other, a plurality of contacts carried upon the adjacent faces of the said heads, the contacts of one of the heads being yieldingly mounted, and a plurality of independent lamp units located intermediate the heads and having terminal abutting engagement at their opposite ends uponthe contacts carried by the respective heads. t

2. A cluster lamp including a mounting consisting of tWo discs concentrically disposed in parallel spaced relation, a centrally disposed rod fixedly connecting the discs one to the other, a threaded plug projecting from the outer face of one of the discs, a plurality of oppositely disposed Yrelatively movable contacts located upon the adjacentVV faces of the respective discs and Wholly Within the peripheries thereof,y and a series of independent lamp units clamped between the contacts carried by the respective discs With which they have terminal abutting eny carried by, the respective heads upon .the

inner or adjacent faces thereof, and a plurality of independent lamp units clamped between thediscs and haying terminal abutting engagement with the contacts vcara `threadedvattaclnnentplug.

s. cluster la y p comprising (a off spaced .heads interconnected-one `with' the other, a threaded vplug projecting 'from ried thereby, one/of :said heads including Y exterior' face of one oi the heads, a plurality of substantially Z shaped spring arms transversely arranged in relation With each other upon the inner falce of one of the heads, a seriesof contacts located upon the inner face of the opposite head :iny positions opposite the extremities of the Z arms, and :L plurality of lamp units interposed between the heads and abutting at one end upon seid Contacts and at their opposite 10 ends upon the extremities of the Z arms andv clamped in such lposition hy the Vinherent tension of the Z arms. f

In'ftestimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 20th day of July A. D. 1922.

Joi-rN s. VAN HoRNE. 

